Howie Meeker Hockey School

Home · Programs · Howie Meeker Hockey School

Howie Meeker Hockey School changed the way kids learned Canada's game. From 1973 to 1977, CBC Television captured the lessons and spirit of the school with four seasons of Howie Meeker Hockey School aired on the full network. Truly one of the greats of the game, the former Toronto Maple Leaf brought his incredible knowledge of hockey and endless enthusiasm as a coach to players, coaches and fans across the country. In 15 minute-long episodes, Meeker puts a class of young skaters in St. John's through their paces, teaching the fundamental skills needed to play hockey. The CBC Digital Archives spotlights 19 full episodes spanning all four seasons.

22 television clips

You must sign in to leave a comment on this clip.

No comments

Back to basics

Broadcast Date: Oct. 17, 1973

Give them skills training before game philosophy — Howie Meeker can't say it often enough. Coaches who do otherwise are simply wasting their time, says the tough but avuncular coach. In this episode from the first season, Meeker gets straight to work on fundamentals aimed at teaching youngsters how to skate, pass and handle the puck. With three skating drills meant to "unlock the hips" and improve balance, posture and flexibility, Meeker's exercises teach kids how to get maximum mobility on the ice.

Back to basics

• Howie Meeker played 346 games at right wing for the Toronto Maple Leafs beginning in 1946. He won the Calder Trophy for the 1946-1947 season, beating out the great Gordie Howe for rookie of the year. He helped the Leafs win the Stanley Cup four times, including three consecutive titles between 1947 and 1949. He went on to coach the Leafs in the mid 1950s, replacing King Clancy as head coach in 1956 for one season, before moving to head office for a short stint as general manager.

• In 1951 Meeker was elected to federal Parliament as a Progressive Conservative in a by-election in his home riding of Waterloo South. At 27, he was the youngest member of Parliament and the only sitting member of the house to also play in the National Hockey League. He did not seek re-election in 1953.

• In 1958, Meeker accepted an invitation from Newfoundland premier Joey Smallwood to get involved with youth hockey in St. John's. Over the course of his 18 years there, Meeker changed the face of hockey in that city, creating and running the Consolidated Avalon Minor Hockey program and the Juvenile RCMP league. All episodes of the television program Howie Meeker Hockey School were filmed on location in St. John's.

• Meeker also rose to prominence as a colour commentator on CBC Television's Hockey Night in Canada beginning in 1968. Known for his tough, candid commentary, his trademark enthusiasm and colloquial expressions like "jeepers" and "Jumpin' Jehoshaphat," Meeker never failed to call it as he saw it. Although his frank comments sometimes put him at odds with team owners and players, he was a perennial favourite of fans and young hockey players across the country.

• Meeker worked on Hockey Night in Canada for 30 years as a commentator, pioneering the use of the instant replay telestrator to break down on-ice play. He moved to TSN in 1990, where he remained until his retirement in 1998. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a broadcaster in 1998.

Howie Meeker Hockey School: Back to basics

Medium: Television

Program: Howie Meeker Hockey School

Broadcast Date: Oct. 17, 1973

Host: Howie Meeker

Duration: 11:01

Last updated:
April 4, 2008

End of list

Activez le Javascript sur votre navigateur...

19 clips in this topic . page . 1 . 2

All clips from this program

Show

22 results available . 1 . 2

Media	Title and date	Description
Television 11:10	Feb. 13, 1977 Howie Meeker Hockey School: Offence one-on-one	Mind over matter makes a forward almost unstoppable, says Howie Meeker.
Television 11:10	Jan. 30, 1977 Howie Meeker Hockey School: Deft defence	On defence, Howie Meeker shows the kids how to get their man almost every time.
Television 11:04	Jan. 23, 1977 Howie Meeker Hockey School: Perfecting the pass-and-shoot	Howie Meeker teaches a complex pass-and-shoot drill to get some mental exercise into the game too.
Television 11:04	Dec. 5, 1976 Howie Meeker Hockey School: Puck control and the snapshot	Puck control makes passing a cinch, just in time for a shooting lesson from Guy Lafleur.
Television 11:10	Dec. 5, 1976 Howie Meeker Hockey School: Serious stick-handling	Stick-handling starts with grip and just the right wrist action, says Howie Meeker.
Television 11:12	Nov. 28, 1976 Howie Meeker Hockey School: Stick tricks	Get a hockey stick that matches the player, especially in length and personality.
Television 11:10	Oct. 17, 1976 Howie Meeker Hockey School: Mobility on skates	Drills to unlock the hips give skaters mobility and power.
Television 11:04	Dec. 5, 1975 Howie Meeker Hockey School: Puck control and the snapshot	Puck control makes passing a cinch, just in time for a shooting lesson from Guy Lafleur.
Television 11:04	Dec. 5, 1975 Howie Meeker Hockey School: Puck control and the snapshot	Puck control makes passing a cinch, just in time for a shooting lesson from Guy Lafleur.
Television 11:04	Nov. 28, 1975 Howie Meeker Hockey School: Drills for skills	Power and mobility on skates comes from the skills developed with the right drills.
Television 11:10	Nov. 2, 1975 Howie Meeker Hockey School: Blue line stand	Howie Meeker shows defencemen how to cut off the attacker on the forward rush.
Television 11:10	March 14, 1975 Howie Meeker Hockey School: Smart forechecking	Forechecking is as much about brains as it is about brawn.
Television 11:10	March 7, 1975 Howie Meeker Hockey School: Checking for forwards	Forwards get a lesson in one of their most important jobs: offensive checking.
Television 11:10	Dec. 6, 1974 Howie Meeker Hockey School: Goalie skills-building	Good goaltending starts with solid skating built on balance and coordination.
Television 11:10	Dec. 6, 1974 Howie Meeker Hockey School: Goalie skills-building	Good goaltending starts with solid skating built on balance and coordination.

22 results available . 1 . 2

CBC Archives